A Handbook for Latin Clubs eBook

The whole world’s alphabet, in every line
Some stirring page of history she recalls,—­
Her Alpha is the Prison Mamertine,
Her Omega, St. Paul’s, without the
walls.

Above, beneath, around, she weaves her spells,
And ruder hands unweave them all in vain:
Who once within her fascination dwells,
Leaves her with but one thought—­to
come again.

So cast thy obol into Trevi’s fountain—­
Drink of its waters, and, returning home,
Pray that by land or sea, by lake or mountain,
“All roads alike may lead at last
to Rome.”

—­Herman Merivale

THE FALL OF ROME

Rome ruled in all her matchless pride,
Queen of the world, an empire-state;
Her eagles conquered far and wide;
Her word was law, her will was fate.

Within her immemorial walls
The temples of the gods looked down;
Her forum echoed with the calls
To greater conquest and renown.

All wealth, all splendor, and all might
The world could give, before her lay;
She dreamed not there could come a night
To dim the glory of her day.

Rome perished: Legions could not save,
Nor wealth, nor might, nor majesty,—­
The Roman had become a slave,
But the barbarian was free.

—­Arthur Chamberlain

A CHRISTMAS HYMN

It was the calm and silent night!
Seven hundred years and fifty-three
Had Rome been growing up to might,
And now was queen of land and sea.
No sound was heard of clashing wars—­
Peace brooded o’er the hushed domain:
Apollo, Pallas, Jove and Mars
Held undisturbed their ancient reign,
In the solemn midnight,
Centuries ago.

’Twas in the calm and silent night!
The senator of haughty Rome
Impatient, urged his chariot’s flight,
From lordly revel rolling home:
Triumphal arches, gleaming, swell
His breast with thoughts of boundless sway:
What recked the Roman what befell
A paltry province far away,
In the solemn midnight,
Centuries ago?

Within that province far away
Went plodding home a weary boor;
A streak of light before him lay,
Falling through a half shut stable-door
Across his path. He passed—­for naught
Told what was going on within:
How keen the stars, his only thought—­
The air how calm, and cold and thin
In the solemn midnight,
Centuries ago!

Oh, strange indifference! low and high
Drowsed over common joys and cares;
The earth was still—­but knew not why,
The world was listening, unawares.
How calm a moment may precede
One that shall thrill the world forever!
To that still moment, none would heed,
Man’s doom was linked no more to sever—­
In the solemn midnight,
Centuries ago!